Dumb Insurance Question

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

I'm sure I'm being thick but I can't think straight today!

Am about to purchase annual trip insurance, for trips in October, December, and July 2011. I was going to start it from October, as that's when the first trip is. If I do that, and something happens in - say - September that means I can't go on the trip, will I not be insured and so won't get any help from them? I'm sure I usually start my insurance on the date I go away, but for some reason tonight I am thinking I need to start it from today's date!! Please help my addled brain!!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Unless I have completely misunderstood it for years, you take out the insurance to cover your actual trip from your date of departure either to the end of your trip, or for a calendar year, depending on the insurance you are taking out. I always start my insurance on the date of travel That is the information they ask you for. However if you need to cancel your trip you are obviously going to do so before you travel as during falls under curtailment and at the time of departure is abandonment. So the dates of travel are how you are covered while you are away. If you cancel before you go, you can then claim cancellation as appropriate.

 

[wayneg]

For annual cover you buy a policy with a start date and covered for 1 year from that date for any travel.
You need the policy to start from the day you book anything. If you already have flights booked but wasn't planning on starting your annual cover until your 1st trip you won't be covered if you have to cancel so Annual policies must be purchased on the day you start booking anything.
You are correct if you had to cancel your Oct trip before you bought the policy you could not claim(as you have no policy/cover) so if you already have bought flights/hotels etc then buy insurance ASAP.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Blimey thanks - am booking now!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Does this work the same for packages? I booked my package last May. You can't buy insurance so far in advance.

 

[wayneg]

Does this work the same for packages? I booked my package last May. You can't buy insurance so far in advance.

With a package its not quite as important as you only pay a deposit, if you had to cancel you would just lose the deposit but you can't claim on any insurance policy if you have not bought it.

When booking flight only you don't usually book until 11 months out max and you pay all upfront so you need cover from buying the flights. For eg I spent £3,510 on our August flights back in January, if didn't take cover out until August I would not be covered now.

 

[2Tiggies]

With a package its not quite as important as you only pay a deposit, if you had to cancel you would just lose the deposit but you can't claim on any insurance policy if you have not bought it.

When booking flight only you don't usually book until 11 months out max and you pay all upfront so you need cover from buying the flights. For eg I spent £3,510 on our August flights back in January, if didn't take cover out until August I would not be covered now.

I get that part, but say you bought a package and had to cancel a week before for a qualifying reason. Would you then be covered? Just curious as this is how I had understood it.

 

[wayneg]

I get that part, but say you bought a package and had to cancel a week before for a qualifying reason. Would you then be covered? Just curious as this is how I had understood it.

You have lost me

If I had a package booked I would buy either single trip insurance for those specific dates(either from date of booking or if more than 1 year away as soon as I could) or I would buy annual cover either from date I booked or if more than a year out then I have to make a choice if I wanted cover from 1 year away or from when I start to lose more than just the deposit, if 10 weeks out I lose 50% by cancelling I need cover to start then. If I didn't buy Annual cover til 1 week before I fly then who would I claim from if I had to cancel 10 weeks before flying?
Most people (like myself) that take mutiple trips a year have a rolling annual policy, don't consider any dates, just renew every June so I have 365 days of cover every year to cover all trips.

Hope I covered it in there as I didn't understand what you were getting at, if I didn't cover it type it slow and clear, its almost bed time

 

[2Tiggies]

You have lost me

If I had a package booked I would buy either single trip insurance for those specific dates(either from date of booking or if more than 1 year away as soon as I could) or I would buy annual cover either from date I booked or if more than a year out then I have to make a choice if I wanted cover from 1 year away or from when I start to lose more than just the deposit, if 10 weeks out I lose 50% by cancelling I need cover to start then. If I didn't buy Annual cover til 1 week before I fly then who would I claim from if I had to cancel 10 weeks before flying?
Most people (like myself) that take mutiple trips a year have a rolling annual policy, don't consider any dates, just renew every June so I have 365 days of cover every year to cover all trips.

Hope I covered it in there as I didn't understand what you were getting at, if I didn't cover it type it slow and clear, its almost bed time

I am typing slowly I think you more or less have it covered. The only reason I lost you is probably because my head is tired too (and it hurts - it's been a looooooong day ).

I bought single trip insurance as we only do Disney so it is for my specific dates. I am still (just) outside my window of losing more than just deposit and took out my insurance a couple of months ago, listing my dates of departure and the date of return (actual arrival) back in the UK - 16 days in total. Not planning to cancel , but just curious.

 

[wayneg]

I am typing slowly I think you more or less have it covered. The only reason I lost you is probably because my head is tired too (and it hurts - it's been a looooooong day ).

I bought single trip insurance as we only do Disney so it is for my specific dates. I am still (just) outside my window of losing more than just deposit and took out my insurance a couple of months ago, listing my dates of departure and the date of return (actual arrival) back in the UK - 16 days in total. Not planning to cancel , but just curious.

If you have bought single trip cover you buy for the specific dates of travel (as you say add on for tavelling days) but you are covered from the day you buy the cover if you have to cancel.
There is no benefit waiting to buy single trip cover until just before you go, you buy as soon as you can to be covered.

Do we have to go into complex subjects late at nights? just glad I have not had a drink also

 

[Netty]

But now i'm probably going to put a spanner in the works- but isnt better to start the insurance not on the day of travel but the day before

 

[torsie24]

But now i'm probably going to put a spanner in the works- but isnt better to start the insurance not on the day of travel but the day before

I have my insurance cover me from the day I leave the house.

So for last year this was the day before the flight, as I we stayed overnight at Heathrow.

This year we are flying from Gatwick which is only 20 minutes from home, s my cover doesn;t start until the day of our flight.

I did add an extra day on the end though.

 

[Princess Clayre]

Single Trip insurance will be valid from the date of purchase (so as to cover you for cancellation) and be valid for the dates specified when booking for all other elements i.e luggage, medical. Like Torsie said if you are staying the night before in a hotel it would be better to quote from that date and bear in mind the overnight flight on the way back. It use to be the case that the rate was the same for 9 - 17 days but i'm not totally sure if this is still the same.

Annual Trip Insurance Starts from the date of purchase for 365 days, usually for stays up to 30 days per trip. You can usually get an upgrade for stays up to 60 days.

Hope this helps
Clayre

 

[disney_princess_85]

My annual policy expires on September 10th, the day I leave Orlando. I arrive back in Manchester on the 11th. If something was to happen to my luggage, would I be covered, or will I need to get cover for the 11th?

 

[wayneg]

My annual policy expires on September 10th, the day I leave Orlando. I arrive back in Manchester on the 11th. If something was to happen to my luggage, would I be covered, or will I need to get cover for the 11th?

If your policy expires on the 10th I can't see any company paying out if it went missing on the 11th unless its in the T&C's when your journey begins, something I have never looked at but wouldn't expect them to pay out.
I think you would be better to renew before you go(if you are buying another annual policy) either with your current company or a new one
Just got a random quote for end of August so you can buy well in advance.
Start Date:31/08/2010End Date:30/08/2011

 

[disney_princess_85]

If your policy expires on the 10th I can't see any company paying out if it went missing on the 11th unless its in the T&C's when your journey begins, something I have never looked at but wouldn't expect them to pay out.
I think you would be better to renew before you go(if you are buying another annual policy) either with your current company or a new one
Just got a random quote for end of August so you can buy well in advance.
Start Date:31/08/2010End Date:30/08/2011

Thanks Wayne. I'll just renew it then.

ETA: I've just found an annual policy with Virgin Money for £23.00. Has anyone used them?

 

[2Tiggies]

Not all policies are the same. Some state that you are not covered for any element of your holiday (I am talking about cover specifically for travelling abroad) until the day of departure from the UK.

I suppose it all boils down to reading the T&Cs of your policy.